Essential Items for a Perfect Road Trip

On September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Travel TipsLeave a comment

We receive a small incentive for any purchases, but these items are ones that we would recommend.

As people slowly start to travel once again, one of the most popular ways to get around is buy car. Taking a road trip is a great way to get out and see new places without necessarily exposing yourself to large crowds. Most places are open for dining with limited seating, but any travel is better than no travel. When traveling by car, especially with limited options of places to stop, there are plenty of items that can make the trip a greater success. In no particular order, here are some of the things that you should consider packing on your next road trip.

Packing Cubes: Organizing your clothes so that you can group outfits together or separating out clothes makes every stop along your way easier to get back on the road more quickly. It can also be a great way to separate out clean clothes from dirty clothes. In addition, especially with rolling, you will likely fit more clothes into smaller bags taking up less room in your car.

Collapsible Water Bottle: Staying hydrated while traveling is always important, but taking a bunch of disposable water bottles is not only not environmentally friendly, but just takes up room. Even better than a plain old water refillable water bottle is one that collapses when not in use. It is easy to toss into a bag and then pull it out when you reach your destination and decide to go for a hike.

Personal Water Filter: Having a water bottle is only half of the equation. Having a personal water filter allows you to have fresh water even when you’re on the road or perhaps a trail. Whether filtering tap water or water from a stream or lake, it can be an essential item when hitting the road for multiple days.

Laundry Sheets: We have used these many times during our travels and take them on every trip with us whether internationally or taking a road trip. Whether you want to reduce the amount of clothes you are packing or just be prepared for life’s unexpected messes, having these strips to wash your clothes is extremely handy. The thin strips contain enough soap to wash at least a couple of clothing items and the entire container sits in the palm of your hand.

Hand Sanitizer Sheets: While hand sanitizers have become an every day essential item, they can be even more important when hitting the road. These hand washing strips that don’t require water are also small enough to fit easily in your pocket or glove box and can be great to wipe your hands clean wherever you are.

Emergency Road Side Kit: An emergency road side kit with Jump Cables, First Aid Kit, Tow Rope, Safety Hammer, Reflective Warning Triangle, Reflective Safety Vest, Tire Pressure Gauge, Safety Gloves, Mechanical Flashlight, Tire Repair Tools, Utility Knife, Screwdriver, Rain Coat, PVC Tape and Cables Ties provides more than just the knowledge that you are prepared in the event that something goes wrong during your road trip.

First Aid Kit: If you’re not going to go the length of buying an emergency road side kit or want to create one of your own, having a first aid kit with you is an absolute must. Obviously no one expects something to happen, but being prepared just in case is well worth the little effort that it takes to make sure it is with you on the road.

Road Atlas: Although most people rely on the apps on their smart phones, there are times when you don’t have connectivity and you don’t want to find yourself getting lost. Sometimes old school without technology is just the safest back-up to have at your disposal.

Portable Trash Can: Whether grabbing snacks from a cooler or stopping at a fast food restaurant to get a bite to eat while on the road, having someplace to put your trash is something that most people don’t consider. When you spend hours in your vehicle going from one location to another, the last thing that you want is to have a bunch of trash at your feet. It might be a simple comfort, but the impact is surprising.

For Those Who Are Traveling With Pets

Dog Harness: Just like you wouldn’t travel without putting on your seatbelt, having a harness for you furry family member is also a must. Not only will it keep them safe, it will keep them from wandering around the vehicle. It also can provide a sense of calm for dogs who get anxious when traveling in a car.

Travel Bags For Dogs: Organize all of your furry best friend’s essentials in one central place! This dog bag is perfect for dogs of all sizes. It comes with a front magnetic sleeve pocket, a water bottle holder, a zippered side pocket, an internal zippered mesh pocket, and a removable internal divider to hold everything in place.

First Aid Kit For Dogs and Cats: Just like having a first aid kit for yourself is a good idea, having one for your pet family members is an equally good idea. Always better to be prepared just in case.

Water Bottle For Pets: Having a water bottle specifically designed for your pets is perfect for traveling on the road or hiking on a trail. Your pets need to stay as hydrated during travel as you do.

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Southwest Colorado

On August 27, 2020August 27, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado3 Comments

Located about 30 miles outside the town of Alamosa in Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes are a fascinating feature that has been created by nature over thousands of years. The giant sand dunes sitting at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains highlight the diversity of habitats in southwestern Colorado, which ranges from wetlands, prairies, mountains, and forests. The sand dunes seem oddly out of place, it is almost as if a piece of an African desert was scooped up and dropped in the mountain valley. The reality is that they were created after a large lake dried up thousands of years ago and the wind drove the sand to the base of the mountains.

The People Give Perspective to the Size of the Dunes

Although this year the mountains did not receive a lot of snow and therefore the runoff was minimal, usually there is a river or stream running at the base of the sand dunes, making the contrast even more interesting. One of the good things about the stream not being there was that we didn’t have to get our feet wet in order to get to the base of the dunes, but the bad part was that it was even more sand to walk through in the heat of the sun. It is not easy walking in the sand and even harder walking up the steep sides of the dunes. They may not seem as large from the distance, but the actual peaks of the dunes can be as high as 750 feet (230 meters).

As more and more people visit the dunes, one of the most popular things to do is to bring a sandboard and go sandboarding. People will spend hours climbing to the top and then boarding their way back down. Just to reach the top is difficult, so to do it over and over again in order to shred the sand is a real achievement. It also means that you will be surrounded by plenty of crowds as people flock to the area. There is camping nearby and you will find and endless array of motorhomes and RV’s. Since it is a national park, you can expect to pay $20 per vehicle to get into the park, which is good for seven days.

It took us about three hours to drive from Colorado Springs to the Great Sand Dunes, but it is well worth the drive. We hadn’t been to the sand dunes for over twenty years, so it was also a little bit nostalgic for us as we remembered bringing our young children there to play in the sand. We only spent a couple of hours at the sand dunes as climbing the hills is very exhausting and hard on the legs. Even though we were walking in the Sahara Desert only a few weeks ago, visiting this unique place in Colorado was really something special.

Finding Cabins from the 1800’s in the Mountains of Colorado

On August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado, Hiking, Photo Challenge5 Comments

Here in Colorado, it is not uncommon to find home sites from some of the original settlers being semi-preserved on the lands of state and national parks. Not only are these cabins and ruins fascinating to see, but they are a reminder as to the harshness of nature and how difficult life must have been for those early adventurers. It is hard to imagine what life must have been like living without heat in a wooden cabin deep in the woods with wolves, bears, coyotes, and other animals all around. On a bright, sunny day, it becomes clear why someone would want to brave the elements in order to live in such a beautiful place. It must have been truly special to walk out of your front door every day and see the glory of nature. We have put together a collection of different wooden cabins that we have encountered during our various hikes in the Colorado mountains.